RSU News

RSU Broke Ground For New Library Facility

Rogers State University officials broke ground Oct. 3 for a new library facility
that will double its current size and provide additional resources for its
patrons.

"Today's ceremony will celebrate the construction of a facility that not only
will provide much-needed room for properly housing our growing library
collection, but it also will serve as a focal point for students and area
residents wanting to investigate the world around them," said RSU President Joe
Wiley.

The $3.71 million library is expected to be complete by the Spring 2004
semester. Funding for the library was provided through a 1999 legislative
appropriation.

"RSU is very appreciative of our local legislative delegation, and in particular
Sen. Stratton Taylor, for securing the funding for this important project,"
Wiley said.

The building will contain 45,000 square feet, with the library occupying 28,000
square feet on the building's second and third floors. The first floor will
contain classrooms and faculty offices.

The library will be built on the west side of RSU's Claremore campus between the
Student Residence Hall and Loshbaugh Hall. The current 14,000-square-foot
facility is unable to accommodate the dramatic growth since RSU became a
four-year institution in 2000. The library has added about 5,000 titles
annually, and it now contains more than 50,000 books, 510 current periodical
subscriptions, 4,150 videos, and 1,100 CDs.

Features planned for the new library include reading rooms on the second and
third floors, expanded student seating and study areas, a classroom, campus and
community meeting rooms, and consolidated offices for library staff. Another
planned feature is a coffee bar adjacent to the reading room on the library's
main floor. This feature is intended to make the facility more user-friendly and
encourage students and other patrons to fully explore the library resources.

The building was designed by Graber & Imel Architects of Tulsa, and the
construction bid was awarded to Loerke Construction Group of Tulsa.